Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we visit Beijing, China! There are tons of cool things to do in Beijing. As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel destination. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate on your Beijing vacation.
Hate #1: Beijing Air Quality
The air pollution in Beijing can be pretty bad. There are times when you can’t even go outside because Beijing air quality is downright dangerous. On our first two days in Beijing, the warnings said that children and the elderly should not be outdoors. It’s possible to have some clear days with blue skies but be prepared with some face masks just in case. You can get better quality masks for a better price if you buy them in your home country.
Love #1: Visiting the Great Wall of China
China’s Great Wall is one of those icons of world travel, and you absolutely have to see it when you visit Beijing! It’s definitely one of the coolest things to do in Beijing and possibly the coolest thing you’ll see in all of China. Though don’t expect to get those Instagram pictures of you alone on the Great Wall, it is busy all the time outside of Beijing.
Visit the Seven “New” Wonders of the World
Hate #2: Size of Beijing
Beijing is huge and there are people everywhere. It can feel like complete chaos at all times, but especially when you’re on the Metro. There are 25 million people living in Beijing, so you will be surrounded by lots of people all the time. Every tourist attraction near Beijing, including the Summer Palace, and the Great Wall, will be packed with people.
Love #2: Beijing Sightseeing
There are many interesting Beijing attractions to check out. Yes, the Great Wall is one of them, but there are so many other historic things to see in Beijing. There’s Beihai Park, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and so many other interesting Beijing sites. Don’t expect to see all of the Beijing attractions in a couple of days. No matter how long you are in Beijing, it won’t feel like enough time to cover all the cool stuff.
Hate #3: Language Barrier
There are not many people in Beijing who speak English, so unless you speak Chinese, it can be challenging to communicate. Even if a guidebook says your hotel has English-speaking staff, it may mean they have one person on staff who speaks English and that person may or may not be working at all times. So, it helps to know a few words of Chinese and if you can recognize a few Chinese characters, it will be helpful. Make sure you take a couple business cards from your hotel to give to taxi drivers to help them find where you want to go. A lot of taxi drivers are not from Beijing and do not know the city very well, so also have a major sight that is near your hotel written down in Chinese so that might help the taxi driver.
Love #3: Beijing Food
The food in Beijing is fantastic. You can get different cuisines from all over China, and there’s some really great street food in Beijing, too. Eating out in Beijing is a fun experience, and there is plenty of after-dinner evening activity to enjoy, too.
Everything You Need to Know About Traveler’s Diarrhea
Hate #4: Beijing Traffic
Whether you are a driver, passenger or pedestrian, the traffic in Beijing is insane. Crossing the street is nerve-wracking, to say the least, so just follow the lead of the locals and try to get in the middle of a pack of people who are crossing. Better yet, look for an overpass you can take to avoid crossing the street. When taking a taxi, make sure you have a card from your hotel that you can give the driver. Most aren’t from Beijing and they won’t speak English, so you need a way to communicate your destination.
Love #4: Green Space in Beijing
For such a huge, crowded city, Beijing actually has a lot of green space you can enjoy. Beihai Park is a nice place to escape, and there are bamboo gardens around the city as well. It’s nice to have the green space to balance out the pollution of Beijing.
Hate #5: Beijing Guidebooks
Beijing is changing so quickly that the guidebooks can’t keep up. Museums move, metro lines are extended, rail stations move, and hotels open and close regularly. No matter how new your guidebook is, some information will likely be outdated. We ran into this with Metro lines in particular.
Love #5: Safety in Beijing
For a city of 25 million, Beijing is incredibly safe. Tourist crimes are practically unheard of, and the Chinese culture is just one where crime and safety aren’t an issue for travelers. The locals are typically pretty friendly and want to be helpful, even when it’s hard to communicate with them.
Even with crowds and congestion, Beijing is an amazing city! The “hates” are really just things to have a heads up on rather than a reason not to plan a Beijing vacation. Want more China travel tips? Check out these other blog posts: